2 Samuel 6

• 1. Then David mobilized thirty thousand special troops.
• 2. He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring home the Ark of God, which bears the name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim.
• 3. They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the hillside home of Abinadab. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab's sons, were guiding the cart
• 4. with the Ark of God on it, with Ahio walking in front.
• 5. David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all their might, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments--lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.
• 6. But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark of God.
• 7. Then the LORD's anger blazed out against Uzzah for doing this, and God struck him dead beside the Ark of God.
• 8. David was angry because the LORD's anger had blazed out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means "outbreak against Uzzah"). It is still called that today.
• 9. David was now afraid of the LORD and asked, "How can I ever bring the Ark of the LORD back into my care?"
• 10. So David decided not to move the Ark of the LORD into the City of David. He took it instead to the home of Obed-edom of Gath.
• 11. The Ark of the LORD remained there with the family of Obed-edom for three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household.
• 12. Then King David was told, "The LORD has blessed Obed-edom's home and everything he has because of the Ark of God." So David went there and brought the Ark to the City of David with a great celebration.
• 13. After the men who were carrying it had gone six steps, they stopped and waited so David could sacrifice an ox and a fattened calf.
• 14. And David danced before the LORD with all his might, wearing a priestly tunic.
• 15. So David and all Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with much shouting and blowing of trumpets.
• 16. But as the Ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she was filled with contempt for him.
• 17. The Ark of the LORD was placed inside the special tent that David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.
• 18. When he had finished, David blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty.
• 19. Then he gave a gift of food to every man and woman in Israel: a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then everyone went home.
• 20. When David returned home to bless his family, Michal came out to meet him and said in disgust, "How glorious the king of Israel looked today! He exposed himself to the servant girls like any indecent person might do!"
• 21. David retorted to Michal, "I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me above your father and his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the LORD. So I am willing to act like a fool in order to show my joy in the LORD.
• 22. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, but I will be held in honor by the girls of whom you have spoken!"
• 23. So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her life.

1 Corinthians 16

• 1. Now about the money being collected for the Christians in Jerusalem: You should follow the same procedures I gave to the churches in Galatia.
• 2. On every Lord's Day, each of you should put aside some amount of money in relation to what you have earned and save it for this offering. Don't wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.
• 3. When I come I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem.
• 4. And if it seems appropriate for me also to go along, then we can travel together.
• 5. I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia, for I am planning to travel through Macedonia.
• 6. It could be that I will stay awhile with you, perhaps all winter, and then you can send me on my way to the next destination.
• 7. This time I don't want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let me.
• 8. In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost,
• 9. for there is a wide-open door for a great work here, and many people are responding. But there are many who oppose me.
• 10. When Timothy comes, treat him with respect. He is doing the Lord's work, just as I am.
• 11. Don't let anyone despise him. Send him on his way with your blessings when he returns to me. I am looking forward to seeing him soon, along with the other brothers.
• 12. Now about our brother Apollos--I urged him to join the other brothers when they visit you, but he was not willing to come right now. He will be seeing you later, when the time is right.
• 13. Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong.
• 14. And everything you do must be done with love.
• 15. You know that Stephanas and his household were the first to become Christians in Greece, and they are spending their lives in service to other Christians. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters,
• 16. to respect them fully and others like them who serve with such real devotion.
• 17. I am so glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here. They have been making up for the help you weren't here to give me.
• 18. They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you, too. You must give proper honor to all who serve so well.
• 19. The churches here in the province of Asia greet you heartily in the Lord, along with Aquila and Priscilla and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings.
• 20. All the brothers and sisters here have asked me to greet you for them. Greet each other in Christian love.
• 21. Here is my greeting, which I write with my own hand--PAUL.
• 22. If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come!
• 23. May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
• 24. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.

Ezekiel 14

• 1. Then some of the leaders of Israel visited me, and while they were there,
• 2. this message came to me from the LORD:
• 3. "Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that lead them into sin. Why should I let them ask me anything?
• 4. Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: I, the LORD, will punish the people of Israel who set up idols in their hearts so they fall into sin and then come to a prophet asking for help.
• 5. I will do this to capture the minds and hearts of all my people who have turned from me to worship their detestable idols.
• 6. "Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: Repent and turn away from your idols, and stop all your loathsome practices.
• 7. I, the LORD, will punish all those, both Israelites and foreigners, who reject me and set up idols in their hearts so they fall into sin, and who then come to a prophet asking for my advice.
• 8. I will turn against such people and make a terrible example of them, destroying them. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
• 9. And if a prophet is deceived and gives a message anyway, it is because I, the LORD, have deceived that prophet. I will stand against such prophets and cut them off from the community of Israel.
• 10. False prophets and hypocrites--evil people who claim to want my advice--will all be punished for their sins.
• 11. In this way, the people of Israel will learn not to stray from me, polluting themselves with sin. They will be my people, and I will be their God, says the Sovereign LORD."
• 12. Then this message came to me from the LORD:
• 13. "Son of man, suppose the people of a country were to sin against me, and I lifted my fist to crush them, cutting off their food supply and sending a famine to destroy both people and animals alike.
• 14. Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, their righteousness would save no one but themselves, declares the Sovereign LORD.
• 15. "Or suppose I were to send an invasion of dangerous wild animals to devastate the land and kill the people.
• 16. Even if these three men were there, the Sovereign LORD swears that it would do no good--it wouldn't save the people from destruction. Those three alone would be saved, but the land would be devastated.
• 17. "Or suppose I were to bring war against the land, and I told enemy armies to come and destroy everything.
• 18. Even if these three men were in the land, the Sovereign LORD swears that they could not save the people. They alone would be saved.
• 19. "Or suppose I were to pour out my fury by sending an epidemic of disease into the land, and the plague killed people and animals alike.
• 20. Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were living there, the Sovereign LORD swears that they could not save the people. They alone would be saved by their righteousness.
• 21. "Now this is what the Sovereign LORD says: How terrible it will be when all four of these fearsome punishments fall upon Jerusalem--war, famine, beasts, and plague--destroying all her people and animals.
• 22. Yet there will be survivors, and they will come here to join you as exiles in Babylon. You will see with your own eyes how wicked they are, and then you will feel better about what I have done to Jerusalem.
• 23. When you meet them and see their behavior, you will agree that these things are not being done to Israel without cause, says the Sovereign LORD."

New Living Translation: 254 of 365 days.